How to carry out the site selection, construction, and operation of a final repository especially for high-level radioactive waste? How to organize the long-term interim storage, which is necessary until this final repository is built? Scientists and technologists contribute considerably to answering these questions. But also social science expertise, e.g. on the socio-technical dynamics especially during the site selection process, can be of great importance in the phase of preparation and realization of measures for radioactive waste disposal.

The experience gained during the last decades has shown that a successful site selection does not only require constant updating of the scientific and technological knowledge, but also proper consideration of the social context and a constructive handling of societal expectations. Many studies confirm the interactions between the technical and social factors. Indeed, the disposal of radioactive waste is a socio-technical task, which has to be addressed and analyzed beyond the established disciplinary boundaries of research. There is a need for further investigation with regard to following issues

• How do technology and society interact in decision processes?
• How do political, legal, and social framework conditions influence the technologies and concepts chosen for final repositories?
• To which extent are there options and instruments that enable both affected and interested actors to participate in technical debates and decisions?
• How can the period of time relevant for political and social dynamics and the one required for the implementation process be adequately taken into account in planning?

Our project team will look into these questions. We analyze how socio-technical interactions regarding the final repository and interim storage facilities for radioactive waste can be identified and, above all, how these can be recorded, described, and assessed.

The project´s main objectives are:

1. Systematization

Development and regular updating of a differentiated and systematized understanding of socio-technical contexts and challenges during the disposal of radioactive wastes

2. Concept development

Development of scientific concepts for the analysis of socio-technical challenges

3. Options for actions

Development of courses of action to deal with socio-technical challenges in governance structures and radioactive waste management

Further goals are:

1. Contribute to maintain and develop competence in the research on disposal (Exchange of ideas with the interested public and politics)

2. Promote young researchers to enhance the long-term R&D capacities: teaching, PhD colloquia, summer/winter schools, etc.

3. Expand and foster international co-operations on radioactive waste disposal issues

4. Formulation of policy recommendations.

Our working assumptions:

1. A prolonged interim storage will precede the final storage of radioactive wastes. This will cause new societal conflicts.

2. In order to face the lengthy time of the process, the possible changes of the disposal policies and concepts as well as resulting insecurities, institutions are needed that are at the same time steady and robust, but also flexible.

3. The sooner concrete steps for dealing with radioactive wastes are initiated the more favorable it is regarding scientific, technological, political, economic, and social aspects.

Partners:

Öko-Institut e.V. (Lead)

The Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)